Editorial: Slow progress in science

Published 5:43 pm, Saturday, March 29, 2014

After a decade-long effort, Greenwich parents finally seem to be making progress on convincing the school district to create a sixth-grade advanced science course.

Administrators essentially shrugged off the concept through many of those years, but Superintendent of Schools William McKersie last week gave the initiative a major shove forward. In doing so, he also uttered a phrase that would serve as a fine mantra for any school system: "Acceleration for all our students has to be our goal."

Some of the parents focused on a related theme in making the pitch: Without challenges such as this, students not only stagnate, but can act out inappropriately.

On Thursday, McKersie is scheduled to propose launching the course -- which would complement regular sixth-grade science classes in the three middle schools -- in the 2015-16 school year. During a recent meeting, some school board members joined the chorus of parents asking for the course, seeing it as an opportunity to fill an existing gap in continuity.

Administrators should always be on the lookout for ways to challenge students. We hope this effort moves forward quickly. It should not take a decade to accelerate.